No Man Left Behind (2016) s01e03 Episode Script
To Hell and Back
1 [EXPLOSION.]
BYRON DORGAN: THOSE WHO PERPETRATED THE ATTACK AGAINS THIS COUNTRY, AND NOW REPRESENT THE GREATEST THREA TO OUR COUNTRY, LIVE FREE IN A SECURE HIDEAWAY.
COMMANDER: OUR TARGET IS HAJI GHAFOUR, LEADER OF THE HIG GROUP.
SCOTT FORD: OUR INITIAL IMPRESSIONS WERE NOT GOOD.
WE DON'T WANT TO FIGHT UP THE HILL, WE WANT TO FIGH DOWN THE HILL.
MAN: BOTH OF THOSE GUYS GOT SOMETHING.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A WEAPON.
I'VE GOT FOUR BAD GUYS WITH MACHINE GUNS.
DILLON BEHR: THE ENTIRE VALLEY JUST ERUPTED.
SCOTT FORD: TAKE COVER! DILLON BEHR: THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT I DIE.
[EXPLOSIONS, AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE, INAUDIBLE SCREAMING.]
.
SCOTT FORD: WE KNEW THE ODDS WERE STACKED AGAINST US.
WE CAN'T GIVE UP.
ZACH RHYNER: TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER, DESTROY TARGET.
DILLON BEHR: I LOOK BACK AT IT NOW, I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT ANY OF US MADE I OUT OF THERE ALIVE.
SCOTT FORD: THEY ONLY GOT US SOME COFFEE, MAN.
DILLON BEHR: SWEET, THANKS.
SCOTT FORD: THERE IS A SAYING THAT, "THOSE I SHED BLOOD WITH WILL ALWAYS BE MY BROTHER.
" AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A VERY TRUE STATEMENT.
DILLON AND I STILL GE TOGETHER EVERY YEAR, AND HUNT TOGETHER.
BUT DILLON AND I DEFINITELY WEREN'T AS CLOSE BEFORE THAT DAY.
DILLON BEHR: REMEMBER THA TIME WHEN I CAME BACK AND YOU HAD JUST, LIKE, TAKEN OVER THE TEAM? YOU HAD DRAWN THIS, LIKE, CRAZY PICTURE ON THE WHITEBOARD.
I WAS LIKE, "WHO IS THIS GUY?" SCOTT FORD: IN 2007, I WAS ASSIGNED A TEAM IN CHARLIE COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION.
I HAD 15 YEARS OF MILITARY EXPERIENCE.
MY JOB AS THE TEAM SERGEANT WAS TO ENSURE THA THE TEAM WAS TRAINED PROPERLY.
MY TEAM WAS A VERY YOUNG TEAM.
I REALIZED WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A VERY RUDIMENTARY 'CRAWL, WALK, RUN' PHASE.
DILLON BEHR: I HAD BEEN AWAY AT TRAINING, AND I REMEMBER COMING BACK AND EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS NEW TEAM SERGEANT THAT WE HAD.
OH, SORRY, SIR.
SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS THE GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD, AND OTHER PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS A BIT OF A HARD ASS.
THERE WAS THIS PICTURE.
IT HAD LIKE, A BIG STICK FIGURE.
SCOTT FORD: SEE THIS BIG GUY? THAT'S ME.
DILLON BEHR: AND I THINK IT HAD, LIKE, LIGHTNING BOLTS OR SOME CRAP ON THERE.
SCOTT FORD: SEE THESE LITTLE GUYS? THAT'S YOU.
THERE'S ONLY ONE GUY A THE TOP OF THE FLOWCHART, AND THAT'S THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY.
NOW, WE DEPLOY IN THREE MONTHS, AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING YOU READY FOR BATTLE.
NOW, THE MOST IMPORTAN THING ABOUT WINNING A BATTLE DILLON BEHR: WHO IS THIS GUY? SCOTT FORD: IS TEAM WORK.
SETH HOWARD: HE'S THE MAN.
SCOTT FORD: STARTING TOMORROW, YOU ARE NO LONGER INDIVIDUALS.
YOU ARE COGS IN MY MACHINE.
I SAID, "EVERYBODY WILL BE HERE AT 6:30 EVERY MORNING, AND WE'LL DO PHYSICAL TRAINING TOGETHER.
" TOMORROW, 6:30, SHARP.
DISMISSED.
DILLON BEHR: HE WAS THE ALPHA MALE, EVEN OF A TEAM OF ALPHA MALES.
SCOTT FORD: MOVE, LADIES! WE RUN AS A TEAM! TEAM WORK! LET'S GO! THINK ABOUT THE ENEMY! BE THE ENEMY! THE BIGGEST HURDLE I THINK, IN THE BEGINNING, WAS JUST THE MIND-SET, BREAKING THEIR MIND-SET OF, "HEY, THIS IS EASY, WE'RE GREEN BERETS.
" IN AFGHANISTAN, YOU'RE GOING AGAINST PEOPLE THA ARE SEASONED VETERANS.
THEY'VE LIVED COMBA THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.
NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE, AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GOING TO FACE AN ADVERSARY IN AFGHANISTAN THA CAN TAKE ALL YOUR TECHNOLOGY, THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW, AND IT'S JUST ALL ABOUT WHO HAS THE STRONGES WILL TO LIVE AND WHO CAN FIGHT AS A TEAM.
EXCUSE ME? SETH HOWARD: CAN'T DO ANY MORE, SIR, IT'S TOO HOT.
SCOTT FORD: DO YOU THINK THE TALIBAN CARES, IN THE MIDDLE OF A GUNFIGHT, IF IT'S TOO HOT? YOU DIG DEEP, SOLDIER! YOU PUSH YOURSELF! THERE ARE NO QUITTERS ON MY TEAM! SETH HOWARD: YES, SIR.
SCOTT FORD: NOW MOVE! SETH HOWARD: SIR.
SCOTT FORD: YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NEVER QUIT ATTITUDE.
DILLON BEHR: SCOTT WANTED TO PUT EVERYBODY ON THE SAME LEVEL, SO THAT WE WOULD GROW TO BE A COHESIVE UNIT.
SCOTT FORD: WE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN IN OCTOBER OF 2007, AND THEN THE 2ND OF APRIL IN 2008, WE WERE GIVEN A MISSION TO GO CONDUCT A HIGH VALUE TARGET RAID IN NURISTAN.
COMMANDER: OUR TARGET IS HAJI GHAFOUR, LEADER OF THE HIG GROUP.
THIS IS A TIER LEVEL ZERO TARGET, GENTLEMEN.
SCOTT FORD: TIER LEVEL ZERO IS BASICALLY THE SAME LEVEL AS OSAMA BIN LADEN.
COMMANDER: INTEL SUGGESTS GHAFOUR AND HIS FORCES ARE ENCAMPED IN A VILLAGE HIDEOUT, PERCHED RIGHT ON TOP OF THIS MOUNTAIN HERE, IN THE SHOK VALLEY, NURISTAN PROVINCE.
DILLON BEHR: WE WANTED TO RAPPEL IN WITH HELICOPTERS AND BE ABLE TO TAKE THE HIGH GROUND, LAND ON THE BUILDINGS.
SCOTT FORD: BUT OUR INFIL IDEAS WERE REJECTED.
COMMANDER: ALL SPECIAL OPERATIONS AVIATION HELICOPTERS ARE TIED UP, SO YOU WILL HAVE TO LAND A THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY.
SCOTT FORD: OUR INITIAL IMPRESSIONS WERE NOT GOOD.
IT'S A VERY DEFENDABLE VILLAGE.
WE DON'T WANT TO FIGHT UP THE HILL, WE WANT TO FIGH DOWN THE HILL.
COMMANDER: I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER, BUT THAT IS THE DEAL, GENTLEMEN.
GET SOME REST.
WHEELS UP 0500.
SCOTT FORD: THE NAME OF THE MISSION WAS OPERATION COMMANDO WRATH.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOS DIFFICULT NIGHT BEFORE AN OPERATION I'VE EVER HAD.
YOU'VE GOT TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A HIG STRONGHOLD, THIS PARTICULAR VALLEY.
ALL RIGHT, I'M ABOUT READY, ARE YOU? DILLON BEHR: LET'S HEAD.
SCOTT FORD: THEY KNEW EVERY NOOK, CRANNY, CAVE, TRAIL, EVERY FIGHTING POSITION.
IT'S VIRTUALLY UNCHARTED TERRITORY, WHERE THEY KNEW EVERY INCH OF IT.
I LOOKED THROUGH THE HELICOPTER AND EVERYBODY'S KIND OF QUIET, AND I CAN SEE THAT THERE'S KIND OF LONG LOOKS.
HOW YOU DOING, SOLDIER? ZACH RHYNER: GOOD, SIR.
SCOTT FORD: GOOD MAN.
EVERYBODY'S BEING QUIET FOR A REASON.
THEY GIVE ME A ONE MINUTE WARNING.
EVERYBODY'S READY TO RUN OFF THE TAILGATE.
AND THE CREW CHIEF LOOKS AT ME, AND HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, "GO.
" SO I JUST JUMPED.
I DECIDED AT THAT POINT, IT'S TIME TO START MOTIVATING PEOPLE, SO I STAR TO POUND MY CHEST, YOU KNOW, BEAT MY FISTS OFF MY CHEST.
AAH! IT KIND OF GETS THEM PUMPED, SO THAT WAY, THE MINUTE THEY STEP OFF THAT HELICOPTER, THEY'RE READY TO DO WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO WIN.
MAN: ALL RIGHT, AT THE LIMIT? MAN 2: GOING AWAY? MAN: YEAH, I GOT TWO IN THE L.
Z.
RIGHT NOW.
ROGER.
DILLON BEHR: AT THAT POINT, WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET AN APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THE IMAGERY COULDN' REALLY SHOW US.
AND THAT WAS HOW STEEP AND JAGGED THESE MOUNTAINS THA WE WERE ABOUT TO CLIMB WERE.
SCOTT FORD: I CAN SEE THE VILLAGE.
IT'S SIX OR 700 FEET ABOVE WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVERBED.
YOU VERY QUICKLY REALIZE THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A LONG DAY.
WE'RE VERY VULNERABLE AT THIS POINT.
WE NEED TO GET UP IT FAST, BUT THERE'S NO FAST WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK, BECAUSE IT'S SO STEEP.
I HAD THE DETACHMEN SNIPER, SETH HOWARD.
AND I HAD THE TEAM MEDIC, RON SHURER WITH ME.
SCOTT FORD: THEN WE HAD THE COMMAND AND CONTROL ELEMENT, WITH STAFF SERGEANT DILLON BEHR.
DILLON BEHR: IT WAS EXTREMELY SILENT, WHICH IS VERY DISCONCERTING, WHEN YOU KNOW THA THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE JUST ABOVE YOU.
SCOTT FORD: NORMALLY, THERE'S STILL GUYS OUT FARMING, THERE'S ANIMALS.
WE'RE HEARING NOTHING.
MAN: YOU GOT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 GATHERING ON ROOFTOPS.
MAN 2: THOSE ARE BAD GUYS? MAN: YEAH.
SCOTT FORD: I ACTUALLY STARTED TO SEE WOMEN AND CHILDREN LEAVING THE VILLAGE.
WE'VE GOT MOVEMENT.
STAY FROSTY.
HEADS ON A SWIVEL.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GUN FIGHT.
I CAN SEE A DEER DOWN THERE.
DILLON BEHR: NORMALLY, WHEN WE GO OUT, WE ARE THE ONES THA ARE DOING THE HUNTING.
WE ARE THE MOST PREPARED, WE KNOW WHERE THE BAD GUYS ARE AND WE'RE SURPRISING THEM.
SCOTT FORD: YOU STAR TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE THE PREY.
YOU DEFINITELY HAD A SENSE THAT YOU WERE BEING WATCHED.
EVERYBODY'S SITTING AND WAITING FOR YOU TO FALL INTO THEIR TRAP.
MAN: THAT GUY RIGH UNDER YOUR LINE OF SIGHT WAS WAVING SOMETHING AROUND.
BOTH OF THOSE GUYS GOT SOMETHING.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A WEAPON.
MAN: TRY TO PASS THAT INFORMATION ALONG, BECAUSE WHERE ALL THESE GUYS ARE AT, THEY'RE ON HIGH GROUND RELATIVE TO THE FRIENDLIES.
SO THEY HAVE GOOD LINE OF SIGHT ON THEM.
SCOTT FORD: YOU'RE JUS WAITING FOR IT TO START.
DILLON BEHR: I FOUND MYSELF ON BASICALLY A LEDGE.
THERE WAS REALLY NOWHERE TO HIDE.
LUIS MORALES: I GOT FOUR BAD GUYS WITH MACHINE GUNS.
SCOTT FORD: STAFF SERGEAN MORALES RADIOS DOWN HE SEES FOUR BAD GUYS MOVING.
DILLON BEHR: THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK STAND UP.
SCOTT FORD: LIGHT IT UP! TAKE COVER! THEY ANSWER BACK WITH JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FIREPOWER.
DILLON BEHR: THE ENTIRE VALLEY JUST ERUPTED.
SCOTT FORD: THESE GUYS WERE WELL DISCIPLINED.
THEY HAD A PLAN.
WE'D FALLEN RIGH INTO THE AMBUSH.
THIS WAS GOING TO TURN INTO THE BIGGEST FIREFIGH OF MY LIFE.
EITHER YOU ARE WITH US, OR YOU ARE WITH THE TERRORISTS.
COMMANDER: OUR TARGET IS HAJI GHAFOUR, LEADER OF THE HIG GROUP.
MAN: I GOT A BUNCH OF DUDES GATHERING ON THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE.
SCOTT FORD: TAKE COVER! EVEN THOUGH THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST US, WE CAN'T GIVE UP.
[GUNFIRE.]
YOU WANT TO MAKE THEM REGRET SHOOTING AT YOU.
DILLON BEHR: WE COULDN' GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD.
THERE WAS NOWHERE TO HIDE.
I NEEDED TO MOVE OU FROM THAT POSITION.
I SAW A FELLED TREE, AND I FIGURED THAT WAS THE BES CHANCE THAT I HAD.
THE CONCEPT OF TIME ALMOST GOES OUT THE WINDOW.
SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING SORT OF SLOWS DOWN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S HAPPENING EXTREMELY QUICKLY.
I GOT UP TO START MOVING TOWARDS THE FELLED TREE.
AND THAT'S WHEN THE BULLET IMPACTED MY PELVIS.
I FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR AND ELECTROCUTED AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.
I'D NEVER FELT SUCH EXCRUCIATING PAIN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
A LOT OF TIMES, WE THINK WE'RE INVINCIBLE.
VERY RARELY DO YOU THINK, 'I'M THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE INJURED.
' I FELT MYSELF BEING DRAGGED.
LUIS MORALES WAS DOING TRIAGE.
HE WAS COMPLETELY OUT IN THE OPEN.
HE HAD A LOT OF GAUZE AND BANDAGES, AND STARTED PUTTING PRESSURE ON MY PELVIS.
AND I HAD MY ARM UP LIKE THIS.
THE BULLET CAME OUT RIGHT HERE.
AND HIT LUIS IN THE ANKLE.
THE SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE BY THE SECOND.
SCOTT FORD: MOVE UP NOW! I GET A RADIO CALL.
MAN: BEHR'S BEEN HIT! IT'S CRITICAL! SCOTT FORD: THE TONE OF THE VOICE SCARED ME.
MAN: WE NEED A MEDIC UP HERE, NOW! SCOTT FORD: I THINK THA EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM, WHEN THEY HEARD THAT DILLON HAD BEEN CRITICALLY INJURED, THEY DIDN'T THINK ABOUT, 'WE NEED TO EVACUATE A CASUALTY.
' EVERYBODY KNEW THE URGENCY THAT WE NEEDED TO SAVE DILLON'S LIFE.
HEY, RON.
WE NEED TO GET UP THERE.
WE GOT TO GET THEM DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, OK? I GRABBED THE TEAM MEDIC, RON SHURER AND I SAID, "HEY, WE'VE GO TO GET UP THERE.
SETH, ON MY MARK! NOW, GO! NORMALLY, YOU WOULD MOVE FROM ONE PIECE OF COVER TO THE OTHER.
BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH GUNFIRE THAT IT ALMOST FELT LIKE, LET'S JUST SPRIN ALL THE WAY THERE.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE TO BE.
I CAN REMEMBER GRABBING DIRT TO TRY AND CLIMB UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AND LIKE, FEELING BULLETS LITERALLY IMPACTING BETWEEN OUR HANDS.
[GUNFIRE.]
SHURER AND I JUS CONTINUE TO CLIMB, CONTINUE TO CLIMB, CONTINUE TO CLIMB.
I'M JUST AMAZED THAT, YOU KNOW, SHURER AND I, WE DIDN'T GET SHOT.
WE GET UP TO THE LEDGE, THERE'S BULLET CASINGS EVERYWHERE, THERE'S PIECES OF KIT, POOLS OF BLOOD.
DILLON WAS WHITE AS A GHOST AT THIS POINT.
I NEEDED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FAST, OTHERWISE WE WERE GOING TO DIE ON THIS MOUNTAIN.
DILLON BEHR: AAH! SCOTT FORD: NOW! MAN DOWN, WE GOT A MAN DOWN.
DILLON BEHR: I REMEMBER SCOTT DIRECTING WHERE TO MOVE PEOPLE TO.
HAVING HIM SHOW UP ON THE SCENE DID GIVE ME SOME REASSURANCE.
HE WAS VERY CALM.
AAH! AND THAT SORT OF LEADERSHIP BROUGHT EVERYBODY BACK INTO THE REALITY.
SCOTT FORD: DILLON, DILLON! AS SOON AS YOU LOOKED AT DILLON BEHR, YOU KNEW THAT THE CLOCK WAS TICKING.
DILLON! HE LOOKED UP AT ME.
DILLON, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, MAN.
AND I GRABBED HIS HAND AND I WAS LIKE, "HEY MAN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GETTING YOU OUT OF HERE AS FAST AS WE CAN.
" DILLON BEHR: I REMEMBER RON, THE MEDIC, REASSURING ME THA EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE OK, THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET OUT OF THERE.
RON SHURER: IT'S NOT A FEMORAL ARTERY INJURY, RIGHT? DILLON BEHR: YET A THE SAME TIME HE YELLS RON SHURER: WE NEED TO GE THIS MAN OUT OF HERE, NOW! DILLON BEHR: SO HE'S TELLING ME I'M OK, BUT I KNEW FROM THE URGENCY THAT I WASN'T REALLY OK.
DILLON BEHR: AAH! HE GAVE ME A SHOT OF MORPHINE.
IT HELPED DULL THE PAIN A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT KIND OF MADE ME CLOUDY.
YOUR VISION BECOMES A LITTLE BIT BLURRED.
SCOTT FORD: HOW'S IT LOOKING? DILLON BEHR: THE SOUNDS THAT YOU HEAR BECOME A LITTLE MORE MUFFLED.
SCOTT FORD: WE GOT TO GET THIS MAN OUT OF HERE.
DILLON BEHR: YOUR SENSE OF REALITY IS SHIFTED TO SOMETHING LIKE A BLURRY VIDEO GAME.
YOU DO FEEL SOMEWHA DETACHED FROM YOURSELF.
I THINK THAT THE MORPHINE WAS ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO TAKE IN MORE THAN JUST MY IMMEDIATE PAIN, AND I WAS ABLE TO SORT OF SEE THE REST OF THE BATTLEFIELD FOR THE FIRS TIME SINCE I HAD BEEN SHOT.
I NOTICED THAT ON A RIDGE LINE ACROSS THE VALLEY, THERE WERE OTHER BUILDINGS THAT HAD NOT BEEN SECURED.
THEY WOULD HAVE HAD A DIRECT SHOT AT MYSELF AND EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE TEAM.
BUILDING.
I DID EVERYTHING THAT I COULD TO MUSTER ENOUGH STRENGTH TO RELAY THAT TO THE TEAM.
THEY GOT US.
BUT I WAS STRUGGLING TO GET MY WORDS TOGETHER.
WHITEBUILDING.
ON THE RIDGE LINE! SCOTT FORD: COPY.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE TO UTILIZE, YOU KNOW, AIR SUPPORT TO WIN THE BATTLE.
RHYNER! GET ME A 2,000 POUNDER ON THAT RIDGE LINE, ASAP! RHYNER! RHYNER'S JOB WAS COMBAT CONTROLLER.
RHYNER, RHYNER! I LOOK OVER AND HE'S NO EVEN FACING THE OBJECTIVE.
I NEED YOU TO GET ON THE RADIO AND CALL IN THE AIR SUPPORT.
HIS JOB IS TO GIVE COORDINATES FOR TARGETS THROUGH A RADIO.
RHYNER! YOU CAN TELL HE'S IN A LITTLE BIT OF SHOCK.
HE WAS BRAND NEW OUT OF SCHOOL.
THIS IS HIS FIRS REAL BAPTISM BY FIRE, SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO HAVE A GUY THAT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF COMBAT SHOCK.
IF YOU'RE IN COMBAT SHOCK, YOU'RE NOT EFFECTIVE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
AND SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE A CASUALTY.
I REALIZED I NEEDED TO HAVE A VERY CALM CONVERSATION WITH HIM, TO GET HIM TO CALM DOWN.
KIND OF EFFECTIVELY BRING HIM OUT OF THE BATTLE FOR A MINUTE.
I ACTUALLY REACH OVER, PUT MY ARM AROUND HIM AND, YOU KNOW, JUST HAD A CONVERSATION LIKE WE WERE SITTING IN A BAR.
YOU HAVING A GOOD DAY TODAY? HE KIND OF LOOKED AT ME LIKE, "WHAT?" IT'S A NICE VIEW UP HERE, ISN'T IT? ZACH RHYNER: YEAH, KIND OF.
SCOTT FORD: IT KIND OF CREATES A LITTLE SPACE, WHERE IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE GUNFIRE DISAPPEARS FOR THAT SMALL MOMENT.
WHEN WE GET OUT OF HERE, WE'RE GOING TO GET A BEER.
YOU KNOW I REALLY NEED YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS RIGHT NOW.
YOU NEED TO GET ON THE RADIO, YOU'RE GOING TO CALL IN THE AIR SUPPORT.
CAN YOU DO THAT FOR ME? YOU SEE THAT WHITE BUILDING OVER THERE? LET'S CRUSH THAT ONE FIRST.
THE NEXT ONE AFTER THAT, AND THEN AFTER, JUST DON'T EVER STOP UNTIL THE WHOLE VILLAGE IS A PARKING LOT.
YOU DO THAT FOR ME? GOOD MAN.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS.
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51, THIS IS TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER, MISSION NUMBER THREE, THREE, THREE, SIX.
REQUESTING PRIORITY ONE.
MAN: HAWK 51, ON STATION.
ZACH RHYNER: TARGET IS ONE BUILDING, FORTIFIED HOUSE DILLON BEHR: THEY WERE GOING TO DROP A 2,000 POUND BOMB.
THAT'S A VERY BIG BOMB.
ZACH RHYNER: LOCATION 42 SIERRA X-RAY ECHO DILLON BEHR: WE WERE DEFINITELY WELL WITHIN THE MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE.
WHAT WE CALL 'DANGER CLOSE'.
ZACH RHYNER: FRIENDLIES ARE LESS THAN A CLICK AWAY.
SCOTT FORD: WE ARE ASSUMING THE RISK OF THAT BOMB BEING DROPPED WITHIN THE MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE.
THEY COULD DROP I RIGHT ON TOP OF OUR HEADS, AND KILL US ALL.
ZACH RHYNER: DESTROY TARGET.
MAN: COPY THAT.
SCOTT FORD: IT WAS A TENSE MOMENT OF ANTICIPATION OF, YOU KNOW, "AM I GOING TO GE HIT BY SHRAPNEL OR DEBRIS?" IT'S AN UNKNOWN, BECAUSE THERE'S NO TRAINING FOR THAT.
MAN: TEN, NINE DILLON BEHR: THERE CAME A COUNTDOWN OVER THE RADIO.
MAN: EIGHT DILLON BEHR: AND THE ONLY THING THAT WAS SHIELDING ME WAS RON, THE MEDIC.
SCOTT FORD: INCOMING, EVERYBODY GET DOWN! I HAD TO RUN OVER TO THE WALL AND COUNT IN MY HEAD, LIKE, FIVE, FOUR, THREE TWO YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY TO BELIEVE IN GOD.
PPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 GATHERING ON ROOFTOPS.
[GUNFIRE.]
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51, THIS IS TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER.
DESTROY TARGET.
DILLON BEHR: THE ENTIRE VALLEY ERUPTED WITH THIS HUGE ROAR.
SCOTT FORD: ALMOST LIKE I WAS KIND OF THE WORST THUNDER YOU'D EVER HEARD.
DILLON BEHR: ROCKS STARTED HITTING THE WALLS ALL AROUND US.
THE SMOKE AND THE DEBRIS BLOCKS OUT THE SUN.
MAN: THAT WAS CLOSE TO THE GOOD GUYS.
MAN 2: YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY DANGER CLOSE.
MAN: YES, AND THEN SOME.
MAN 2: I DON'T HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
SCOTT FORD: AND THEN, THERE WAS JUST SILENCE.
DILLON, YOU OK? DILLON BEHR: A PIECE OF ROCK FELL AND LANDED RIGHT ON MY STOMACH.
THAT PIECE OF ROCK ACTUALLY PERFORATED MY INTESTINES.
WHAT'S NEXT? THIS IS A DAY FROM HELL.
SCOTT FORD: ONCE WE DROPPED THE BOMB, WE HAD ABOUT A TWO MINUTE LULL.
NOW, I'VE KIND OF GO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GUNFIGHT, AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN' POSSIBLY SCALE THE REST OF THIS MOUNTAIN AND CONTINUE THE ASSAULT.
IT WAS MORE IMPORTAN TO SAVE DILLON'S LIFE, AT ALL COSTS.
AIR SUPPORT IS WHAT'S GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE GET OFF THIS MOUNTAIN.
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51, THIS IS TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER.
SCOTT FORD: RHYNER'S WORKING WITH THE AIRCRAFT NOW.
OBVIOUSLY, THE COMBAT SHOCK IS GONE.
I CAME UP WITH A PLAN, LET'S USE THESE LULLS TO OUR ADVANTAGE.
WE CAN HAND CASUALTIES DOWN, YOU KNOW, ONE LEVEL.
KIND OF LEAPFROG THEM, UNTIL WE CAN GET THEM TO SAFETY.
RON, WE NEED TO GE THESE GUYS PACKAGED AND READY TO MOVE.
WE'RE WAITING ON YOU.
RON SHURER: YES, SIR! SCOTT FORD: THEN, WE'RE BACK IN THE GUNFIGHT AGAIN.
DILLON BEHR: AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN SCOTT! SCOTT FORD: I HAD TO TAKE A VERY QUICK, INSTINCTIVE SHOT.
THEY'VE SENT SOMEBODY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO TRY AND PROBE US.
THEY'RE CHECKING OUR VULNERABILITY.
TYPICALLY, WHENEVER YOU START TO DROP BOMBS, THEY START TO FLEE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL IN THE GUNFIGHT, THEY'RE NOT LEAVING.
AND SO NOW I REALIZE THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT TO THEIR DEATH.
DILLON BEHR: I FEL LIKE I WAS FADING OUT.
MY THOUGHTS STARTED DRIFTING TO DYING, GOD, AND WHAT IT'S LIKE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
ALL OF THE THINGS THA YOU NEVER ACCOMPLISHED.
I REMEMBER, I WAS DEFINITELY THINKING ABOUT MY FAMILY.
I SAID A PRAYER.
I SAID, "GOD, I KNOW I'M NO THE BEST PERSON IN THE WORLD, BUT IF THERE'S ANY REASON THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE ALIVE NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR THAT.
" I FELT THIS, LIKE, STRANGE CALM.
AND I REMEMBER THINKING, 'OK, THIS IS IT.
' THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT I DIE.
AND I JUST FELT LIKE A STRANGE, LIKE, PEACE.
AND THEN, AT THAT MOMENT RON SHURER: DILLON, HEY STAY WITH ME, MAN! YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE TODAY, OK? COME ON, DILLON.
DILLON BEHR: I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THAT MOMENT AND TRY TO BE A BETTER PERSON THAN I WAS BEFORE THAT.
AND I TRY TO LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST.
IT'S AMAZING HOW NEARLY DYING WILL GIVE YOU A DIFFEREN PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.
HOW PRECIOUS LIFE IS, REALLY AND HOW FRAGILE IT IS.
RON SHURER: COME ON, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT, BUDDY! WE'RE GOING TO GE YOU OUT OF THIS! OK, READY TO MOVE! SCOTT FORD: OK, COPY! GET DILLON READY! WE GO ON MY MARK.
WALDING, WE DO COVERING FIRE! LET'S MOVE! ESSENTIALLY, STAFF SERGEAN WALDING AND I WERE USING OUR BODIES AS COVER.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I JUST SEE WALDING JUMP.
DILLON BEHR: JOHN WALDING WAS SHOT THROUGH THE LEG.
I REMEMBER HIM SCREAMING IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN.
SCOTT FORD: MEDIC! TOURNIQUET! DILLON BEHR: FIRS MYSELF, NOW LUIS, AND NOW JOHN WALDING'S ALSO BEEN HIT.
SO, FOR A TWELVE MAN TEAM, THREE OF US HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE BATTLE.
THE ODDS ARE NO WERE NOT LOOKING GOOD.
SCOTT FORD: THAT'S WHEN I REALLY STARTED TO PICK UP MY RATE OF FIRE.
I WAS KIND OF THE LAST WALL OF DEFENSE FOR OUR CASUALTIES.
MY PLAN WAS JUST TO STAND THERE AND SHOOT UNTIL WE COULD MOVE.
I ESSENTIALLY HAVE A QUARTER OF MY FORCE WOUNDED.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE RES OF MY DETACHMENT TO GET THESE THREE OFF THE MOUNTAIN.
IF WE TAKE ANOTHER WOUNDED, YOU KNOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I FELT A ROUND IMPACT MY CHEST.
AT THAT POINT, I'M NOT SURE I'M GOING TO GE OFF THIS MOUNTAIN ALIVE.
[GUNFIRE.]
SCOTT FORD: IT FELT LIKE BEING HIT BY A BASEBALL BAT.
VERY SHARP AND VERY PAINFUL.
AT A MINIMUM, I HAD BROKEN A RIB.
IF NOT, THE BULLET HAD ACTUALLY PENETRATED THROUGH MY BODY ARMOR.
I DID A BLOOD CHECK WITH MY HAND, PUT IT IN BETWEEN MY BODY ARMOR AND MY CHEST.
THERE WAS NO BLOOD ON IT.
AND THEN I KIND OF JUST TOOK A BREATHER FOR A MINUTE AND WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, "HEY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TIME TO ENJOY A MOMEN OF I FEEL LUCKY.
" GOT TO GET BACK OU THERE AND GET THE JOB DONE.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I JUST FEEL THIS EXTREME PAIN IN MY LEFT ARM.
DILLON BEHR: THE BULLE THAT HIT SCOTT WENT STRAIGH THROUGH HIS ARM AND HIT RON IN THE HEAD.
RON LOOKED SHELL-SHOCKED.
AND HE STARTED REACHING FOR HIS HELMET TO TAKE I OFF AND CHECK HIS HEAD.
NO, RON! NO, RON! AND ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS THAT SCENE FROM "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN," WHEN THE GUY ON THE BEACH TAKES OFF HIS HELMET, AND THEN ANOTHER BULLET RIPS THROUGH HIS HEAD.
RON! DON'T TAKE IT OFF.
KEEP YOUR HELMET ON.
SCOTT FORD: I TRY TO LIFT MY ARM TO LOOK AT IT, AND IT DOESN'T MOVE.
I JUST NEEDED TO TAKE A MINUTE.
I SAID A QUICK PRAYER.
GET EVERYBODY OFF THIS MOUNTAIN TODAY.
BEFORE THAT, I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY MOMENT LIKE THAT.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONS THAT QUICKLY KIND OF TAKE OVER.
YOU KNOW, AM I GOING TO DIE ON THIS MOUNTAIN? IF WE SUSTAIN MORE CASUALTIES, YOU KNOW, AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO BE INEFFECTIVE TO FIGHT? JOHN WALDING: GO TO INJECT MYSELF.
SCOTT FORD: WALDING WANTED TO INJECT HIMSELF WITH HIS AUTO INJECTOR OF MORPHINE.
DILLON BEHR: EACH OF THESE PENS HAS A GREEN SIDE AND A PURPLE SIDE.
ONE IS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO YOUR LEG, AND THE OTHER ONE IS NOT.
JOHN WALDING: RON, WHICH END? RON SHURER: PURPLE! SCOTT FORD: WALDING SOMEHOW HAD GOTTEN IT MIXED UP.
JOHN WALDING: AAH, SON OF A BITCH! SCOTT FORD: AND HE INJECTS HIS THUMB FULL OF MORPHINE.
AND WE ALL JUST DIE LAUGHING.
AND HE STARTS TO LAUGH WITH US.
DILLON BEHR: IT ALMOS SEEMED LIKE THE BAD GUYS EVEN STOPPED TO, LIKE, LAUGH ALONG WITH US.
SCOTT FORD: THAT'S A SURPRISING THING.
HOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT, A SMALL PIECE OF HUMOR KIND OF GETS EVERYBODY TO KIND OF GET BACK ON TRACK.
AND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO WORK.
AFTER MONTHS OF TELLING THEM TO NEVER QUIT, I HAVE TO TELL MYSELF, "YOU NEED TO GET UP.
" LET'S SURVIVE, LET'S GET OFF THIS MOUNTAIN.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE START TO TURN THE BATTLE.
MAN: READY? MAN 2: I'M READY.
I'M ENGAGING WITH 30 MILLIMETER ON THOSE BUILDINGS.
MAN: OK.
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51, THIS IS TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER.
SCOTT FORD: BY THAT TIME, WE HAD A LOT OF AIR SUPPOR THAT HAD STARTED TO REALLY POUND THE VILLAGE.
[INAUDIBLE.]
.
ZACH RHYNER: LOCATION, 42 SIERRA X-RAY ECHO.
SCOTT FORD: AND SO WE HAD A LOT OF LULLS.
[HIGH CALIBER GUNFIRE.]
MAN: SIR, NICE SHOT.
MAN 2: ROGER.
SCOTT FORD: BECAUSE I WAS THE ONLY CASUALTY THA HADN'T BEEN SHOT IN THE LEG, I WAS THE ONLY GUY THAT COULD MOVE BY HIMSELF.
AND SO I'M GOING TO GO DOWN AND ESTABLISH THE CASUALTY COLLECTION POINT.
WE DROPPED ANOTHER BOMB, AND IT WAS A MAJOR LULL.
AND I SAW MY OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE.
I WAS SURPRISED I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BALANCE.
KIND OF JUST HAD TO ALMOST SIT ON MY REAR END AND JUST SCOOT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
SO I'M JUST DRAGGING MY ARM THROUGH JUST DIRT.
I WOULD ACTUALLY TELL MYSELF, "DON'T LISTEN TO THE PAIN, JUST BLOCK IT OUT.
" HEY, YOU CAN'T QUIT, YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP GOING.
I GOT DOWN TO THE TIER WHERE OUR SNIPER, SETH HOWARD, WAS ACTUALLY AT.
SETH HOWARD: SIR.
SCOTT FORD: WHAT? SETH ACTUALLY WAS LIKE SETH HOWARD: NO, STOP.
SCOTT FORD: NO, NO.
I'M LIKE I NEED TO GET TO THE CCP.
SETH HOWARD: NEGATIVE, SIR! NEGATIVE.
SCOTT FORD: HERE'S ONE OF THE MOST JUNIOR GUYS ON THE TEAM, AND YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY ASSERTIVELY TELLING ME, "NO, STOP.
" SETH HOWARD: SEE THAT ARM BEFORE YOU GO ANYWHERE.
SCOTT FORD: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I HAD TO STOP THINKING THAT I COULD DO IT ALL MYSELF.
SETH HOWARD: GOING TO GET YOU FIXED UP, SIR.
SCOTT FORD: AND LET HIM HELP ME.
FOR SOMEBODY LIKE MYSELF, THAT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST LESSONS TO LEARN.
DILLON BEHR: THE ONES OF US THAT WERE WOUNDED CRITICALLY, MYSELF AND JOHN WALDING AND LUIS MORALES, COULDN'T MAKE IT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN THE WAY THA WE HAD CAME.
IT WOULD HAVE EXPOSED ME AND THE GUYS TO TOO MUCH FIRE.
THE WAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, THERE WAS NO PATH.
IT WAS JUST DROPPING DOWN CLIFFS, BASICALLY.
THIS WAS LITERALLY ROCK CLIMBING.
20, 30 FOOT DROPS IN SOME PLACES.
THE MORPHINE HAD MORE THAN WORN OFF BY THIS POINT.
BEING DROPPED AT THAT POINT, ONTO THAT LEG IT WAS SO EXCRUCIATING.
SCOTT FORD: WE ALL FINALLY REACHED THE CASUALTY COLLECTION POINT.
DILLON BEHR: I WAS PROPPED UP SORT OF FACING OU INTO THE VALLEY.
AND I REMEMBER HEARING THE BLACK HAWK APPROACH.
SCOTT FORD: HELICOPTER GETS CLOSER AND CLOSER AND CLOSER, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HEAR THE ROTORS.
AND YOU JUS KIND OF HAD THIS, "HEY, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE.
" YOU KNOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SURVIVE THIS.
[GUNFIRE.]
DILLON BEHR: GUNFIRE STARTED ERUPTING AGAIN.
THE HELICOPTER HAD STARTED TAKING A BUNCH OF BULLETS.
SCOTT FORD: IT SOUNDS LIKE HAIL HITTING THE HELICOPTER.
I CAN FINALLY REACH UP, AND I'M ALMOST TRYING TO GRAB THE FLOOR OF THIS THING AND PULL THE HELICOPTER OVER TO ME.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S KIND OF LIKE FREEDOM GETS YANKED FROM YOUR HAND.
HEAR ROTORS STRIKE THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.
AND I'M JUST LIKE, "NO.
" AND SO HE HAS TO LIMP THIS HELICOPTER OUT OF THERE.
DILLON BEHR: IF THE HELICOPTERS COULDN'T GET IN THERE AND GET US OUT, WE WERE GOING TO BE THERE ALL NIGHT.
THE CHANCES OF ALL OF US FIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, AND THE CHANCES OF ME MAKING IT TO DAYLIGHT WERE SLIM TO NONE.
SCOTT FORD: YOU NEED TO SEND ANOTHER MEDEVAC INTO THE VALLEY, NOW! WE CANNOT SUSTAIN OVERNIGHT.
DILLON BEHR: SCOTT WAS ADAMANT ABOUT THE FACT THA ANOTHER BIRD HAD TO COME IN.
SCOTT FORD: WE'RE RUNNING LOW ON AMMO AND SUPPLIES, AND IN DANGER OF BEING OVERRUN.
I JUST TOLD THEM, I SAID, "SOME OF THOSE CASUALTIES MAY NOT SURVIVE OVERNIGHT.
" OUR CASUALTIES NEED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT THIS HARD IMMEDIATE MEDICAL SUPPORT! IN MY OPINION, WE DON'T WIN UNTIL WE GE DILLON BEHR OUT ALIVE.
DO YOU COPY? MAN: ROGER THAT, TF BUSHMASTER.
WE'RE COMING IN.
SCOTT FORD: AS THE HELICOPTER COMES IN, YOU'RE JUST WATCHING EVERY MOVE THESE PILOTS MAKE.
THIS HELICOPTER IS OUR LAST CHANCE.
DILLON BEHR: ONCE I WAS PUT ONTO THE HELICOPTER THE TEAM JUMPED ON ME AND STARTED RIPPING EVERYTHING OFF.
THEY'D TAKEN MY BLOOD PRESSURE.
SCOTT FORD: AS WE LIFT OFF, YOU CAN STILL HEAR A HAIL OF GUNFIRE.
AND ALL I CAN IMAGINE IS, 'WE'RE GOING TO EXPLODE IN THIS BIG BALL OF FIRE.
' THOSE SECONDS FEL LIKE IT WAS 20 MINUTES.
AND IT WAS PROBABLY NO MORE THAN 10, 15 SECONDS.
BUT EVENTUALLY YOU DON'T HEAR ANY GUNFIRE.
WE'VE MADE IT.
THAT'S A FEELING I'LL NEVER FORGET, THE REST OF MY LIFE.
IT WAS AMAZING TO ME THAT EVERY AMERICAN HAD MADE IT OUT ALIVE.
DILLON BEHR: I DON' CONSIDER IT LUCK.
THE LEADERSHIP OF SCOTT, THE TRAINING, THE RESILIENCY TO NEVER GIVE UP.
EVERYBODY WORKED TOGETHER TO DO WHAT THEY HAD TO DO FOR THE GUY ON THEIR LEF AND THE GUY ON THEIR RIGHT.
MY TEAMMATES ARE THE ONLY REASON THAT I'M ALIVE TODAY.
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51.
DILLON BEHR: SCOTT AND I DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE, BUT THAT DAY, I GAINED A LARGE AMOUNT OF RESPEC FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
THAT'S A BOND THAT CAN' REALLY BE BROKEN BY TIME.
SCOTT FORD: WE'LL REMAIN BROTHERS FOREVER.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE 90 YEARS OLD AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GRUMPIER OLD MEN, JUST OUT THERE TRYING TO HUNT TOGETHER, AND JUST ENJOYING THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALIVE AND WE SURVIVED THAT DAY.
BYRON DORGAN: THOSE WHO PERPETRATED THE ATTACK AGAINS THIS COUNTRY, AND NOW REPRESENT THE GREATEST THREA TO OUR COUNTRY, LIVE FREE IN A SECURE HIDEAWAY.
COMMANDER: OUR TARGET IS HAJI GHAFOUR, LEADER OF THE HIG GROUP.
SCOTT FORD: OUR INITIAL IMPRESSIONS WERE NOT GOOD.
WE DON'T WANT TO FIGHT UP THE HILL, WE WANT TO FIGH DOWN THE HILL.
MAN: BOTH OF THOSE GUYS GOT SOMETHING.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A WEAPON.
I'VE GOT FOUR BAD GUYS WITH MACHINE GUNS.
DILLON BEHR: THE ENTIRE VALLEY JUST ERUPTED.
SCOTT FORD: TAKE COVER! DILLON BEHR: THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT I DIE.
[EXPLOSIONS, AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE, INAUDIBLE SCREAMING.]
.
SCOTT FORD: WE KNEW THE ODDS WERE STACKED AGAINST US.
WE CAN'T GIVE UP.
ZACH RHYNER: TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER, DESTROY TARGET.
DILLON BEHR: I LOOK BACK AT IT NOW, I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT ANY OF US MADE I OUT OF THERE ALIVE.
SCOTT FORD: THEY ONLY GOT US SOME COFFEE, MAN.
DILLON BEHR: SWEET, THANKS.
SCOTT FORD: THERE IS A SAYING THAT, "THOSE I SHED BLOOD WITH WILL ALWAYS BE MY BROTHER.
" AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A VERY TRUE STATEMENT.
DILLON AND I STILL GE TOGETHER EVERY YEAR, AND HUNT TOGETHER.
BUT DILLON AND I DEFINITELY WEREN'T AS CLOSE BEFORE THAT DAY.
DILLON BEHR: REMEMBER THA TIME WHEN I CAME BACK AND YOU HAD JUST, LIKE, TAKEN OVER THE TEAM? YOU HAD DRAWN THIS, LIKE, CRAZY PICTURE ON THE WHITEBOARD.
I WAS LIKE, "WHO IS THIS GUY?" SCOTT FORD: IN 2007, I WAS ASSIGNED A TEAM IN CHARLIE COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION.
I HAD 15 YEARS OF MILITARY EXPERIENCE.
MY JOB AS THE TEAM SERGEANT WAS TO ENSURE THA THE TEAM WAS TRAINED PROPERLY.
MY TEAM WAS A VERY YOUNG TEAM.
I REALIZED WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A VERY RUDIMENTARY 'CRAWL, WALK, RUN' PHASE.
DILLON BEHR: I HAD BEEN AWAY AT TRAINING, AND I REMEMBER COMING BACK AND EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS NEW TEAM SERGEANT THAT WE HAD.
OH, SORRY, SIR.
SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS THE GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD, AND OTHER PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS A BIT OF A HARD ASS.
THERE WAS THIS PICTURE.
IT HAD LIKE, A BIG STICK FIGURE.
SCOTT FORD: SEE THIS BIG GUY? THAT'S ME.
DILLON BEHR: AND I THINK IT HAD, LIKE, LIGHTNING BOLTS OR SOME CRAP ON THERE.
SCOTT FORD: SEE THESE LITTLE GUYS? THAT'S YOU.
THERE'S ONLY ONE GUY A THE TOP OF THE FLOWCHART, AND THAT'S THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY.
NOW, WE DEPLOY IN THREE MONTHS, AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING YOU READY FOR BATTLE.
NOW, THE MOST IMPORTAN THING ABOUT WINNING A BATTLE DILLON BEHR: WHO IS THIS GUY? SCOTT FORD: IS TEAM WORK.
SETH HOWARD: HE'S THE MAN.
SCOTT FORD: STARTING TOMORROW, YOU ARE NO LONGER INDIVIDUALS.
YOU ARE COGS IN MY MACHINE.
I SAID, "EVERYBODY WILL BE HERE AT 6:30 EVERY MORNING, AND WE'LL DO PHYSICAL TRAINING TOGETHER.
" TOMORROW, 6:30, SHARP.
DISMISSED.
DILLON BEHR: HE WAS THE ALPHA MALE, EVEN OF A TEAM OF ALPHA MALES.
SCOTT FORD: MOVE, LADIES! WE RUN AS A TEAM! TEAM WORK! LET'S GO! THINK ABOUT THE ENEMY! BE THE ENEMY! THE BIGGEST HURDLE I THINK, IN THE BEGINNING, WAS JUST THE MIND-SET, BREAKING THEIR MIND-SET OF, "HEY, THIS IS EASY, WE'RE GREEN BERETS.
" IN AFGHANISTAN, YOU'RE GOING AGAINST PEOPLE THA ARE SEASONED VETERANS.
THEY'VE LIVED COMBA THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.
NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE, AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GOING TO FACE AN ADVERSARY IN AFGHANISTAN THA CAN TAKE ALL YOUR TECHNOLOGY, THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW, AND IT'S JUST ALL ABOUT WHO HAS THE STRONGES WILL TO LIVE AND WHO CAN FIGHT AS A TEAM.
EXCUSE ME? SETH HOWARD: CAN'T DO ANY MORE, SIR, IT'S TOO HOT.
SCOTT FORD: DO YOU THINK THE TALIBAN CARES, IN THE MIDDLE OF A GUNFIGHT, IF IT'S TOO HOT? YOU DIG DEEP, SOLDIER! YOU PUSH YOURSELF! THERE ARE NO QUITTERS ON MY TEAM! SETH HOWARD: YES, SIR.
SCOTT FORD: NOW MOVE! SETH HOWARD: SIR.
SCOTT FORD: YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NEVER QUIT ATTITUDE.
DILLON BEHR: SCOTT WANTED TO PUT EVERYBODY ON THE SAME LEVEL, SO THAT WE WOULD GROW TO BE A COHESIVE UNIT.
SCOTT FORD: WE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN IN OCTOBER OF 2007, AND THEN THE 2ND OF APRIL IN 2008, WE WERE GIVEN A MISSION TO GO CONDUCT A HIGH VALUE TARGET RAID IN NURISTAN.
COMMANDER: OUR TARGET IS HAJI GHAFOUR, LEADER OF THE HIG GROUP.
THIS IS A TIER LEVEL ZERO TARGET, GENTLEMEN.
SCOTT FORD: TIER LEVEL ZERO IS BASICALLY THE SAME LEVEL AS OSAMA BIN LADEN.
COMMANDER: INTEL SUGGESTS GHAFOUR AND HIS FORCES ARE ENCAMPED IN A VILLAGE HIDEOUT, PERCHED RIGHT ON TOP OF THIS MOUNTAIN HERE, IN THE SHOK VALLEY, NURISTAN PROVINCE.
DILLON BEHR: WE WANTED TO RAPPEL IN WITH HELICOPTERS AND BE ABLE TO TAKE THE HIGH GROUND, LAND ON THE BUILDINGS.
SCOTT FORD: BUT OUR INFIL IDEAS WERE REJECTED.
COMMANDER: ALL SPECIAL OPERATIONS AVIATION HELICOPTERS ARE TIED UP, SO YOU WILL HAVE TO LAND A THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY.
SCOTT FORD: OUR INITIAL IMPRESSIONS WERE NOT GOOD.
IT'S A VERY DEFENDABLE VILLAGE.
WE DON'T WANT TO FIGHT UP THE HILL, WE WANT TO FIGH DOWN THE HILL.
COMMANDER: I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER, BUT THAT IS THE DEAL, GENTLEMEN.
GET SOME REST.
WHEELS UP 0500.
SCOTT FORD: THE NAME OF THE MISSION WAS OPERATION COMMANDO WRATH.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOS DIFFICULT NIGHT BEFORE AN OPERATION I'VE EVER HAD.
YOU'VE GOT TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A HIG STRONGHOLD, THIS PARTICULAR VALLEY.
ALL RIGHT, I'M ABOUT READY, ARE YOU? DILLON BEHR: LET'S HEAD.
SCOTT FORD: THEY KNEW EVERY NOOK, CRANNY, CAVE, TRAIL, EVERY FIGHTING POSITION.
IT'S VIRTUALLY UNCHARTED TERRITORY, WHERE THEY KNEW EVERY INCH OF IT.
I LOOKED THROUGH THE HELICOPTER AND EVERYBODY'S KIND OF QUIET, AND I CAN SEE THAT THERE'S KIND OF LONG LOOKS.
HOW YOU DOING, SOLDIER? ZACH RHYNER: GOOD, SIR.
SCOTT FORD: GOOD MAN.
EVERYBODY'S BEING QUIET FOR A REASON.
THEY GIVE ME A ONE MINUTE WARNING.
EVERYBODY'S READY TO RUN OFF THE TAILGATE.
AND THE CREW CHIEF LOOKS AT ME, AND HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, "GO.
" SO I JUST JUMPED.
I DECIDED AT THAT POINT, IT'S TIME TO START MOTIVATING PEOPLE, SO I STAR TO POUND MY CHEST, YOU KNOW, BEAT MY FISTS OFF MY CHEST.
AAH! IT KIND OF GETS THEM PUMPED, SO THAT WAY, THE MINUTE THEY STEP OFF THAT HELICOPTER, THEY'RE READY TO DO WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO WIN.
MAN: ALL RIGHT, AT THE LIMIT? MAN 2: GOING AWAY? MAN: YEAH, I GOT TWO IN THE L.
Z.
RIGHT NOW.
ROGER.
DILLON BEHR: AT THAT POINT, WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET AN APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THE IMAGERY COULDN' REALLY SHOW US.
AND THAT WAS HOW STEEP AND JAGGED THESE MOUNTAINS THA WE WERE ABOUT TO CLIMB WERE.
SCOTT FORD: I CAN SEE THE VILLAGE.
IT'S SIX OR 700 FEET ABOVE WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVERBED.
YOU VERY QUICKLY REALIZE THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A LONG DAY.
WE'RE VERY VULNERABLE AT THIS POINT.
WE NEED TO GET UP IT FAST, BUT THERE'S NO FAST WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK, BECAUSE IT'S SO STEEP.
I HAD THE DETACHMEN SNIPER, SETH HOWARD.
AND I HAD THE TEAM MEDIC, RON SHURER WITH ME.
SCOTT FORD: THEN WE HAD THE COMMAND AND CONTROL ELEMENT, WITH STAFF SERGEANT DILLON BEHR.
DILLON BEHR: IT WAS EXTREMELY SILENT, WHICH IS VERY DISCONCERTING, WHEN YOU KNOW THA THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE JUST ABOVE YOU.
SCOTT FORD: NORMALLY, THERE'S STILL GUYS OUT FARMING, THERE'S ANIMALS.
WE'RE HEARING NOTHING.
MAN: YOU GOT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 GATHERING ON ROOFTOPS.
MAN 2: THOSE ARE BAD GUYS? MAN: YEAH.
SCOTT FORD: I ACTUALLY STARTED TO SEE WOMEN AND CHILDREN LEAVING THE VILLAGE.
WE'VE GOT MOVEMENT.
STAY FROSTY.
HEADS ON A SWIVEL.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GUN FIGHT.
I CAN SEE A DEER DOWN THERE.
DILLON BEHR: NORMALLY, WHEN WE GO OUT, WE ARE THE ONES THA ARE DOING THE HUNTING.
WE ARE THE MOST PREPARED, WE KNOW WHERE THE BAD GUYS ARE AND WE'RE SURPRISING THEM.
SCOTT FORD: YOU STAR TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE THE PREY.
YOU DEFINITELY HAD A SENSE THAT YOU WERE BEING WATCHED.
EVERYBODY'S SITTING AND WAITING FOR YOU TO FALL INTO THEIR TRAP.
MAN: THAT GUY RIGH UNDER YOUR LINE OF SIGHT WAS WAVING SOMETHING AROUND.
BOTH OF THOSE GUYS GOT SOMETHING.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A WEAPON.
MAN: TRY TO PASS THAT INFORMATION ALONG, BECAUSE WHERE ALL THESE GUYS ARE AT, THEY'RE ON HIGH GROUND RELATIVE TO THE FRIENDLIES.
SO THEY HAVE GOOD LINE OF SIGHT ON THEM.
SCOTT FORD: YOU'RE JUS WAITING FOR IT TO START.
DILLON BEHR: I FOUND MYSELF ON BASICALLY A LEDGE.
THERE WAS REALLY NOWHERE TO HIDE.
LUIS MORALES: I GOT FOUR BAD GUYS WITH MACHINE GUNS.
SCOTT FORD: STAFF SERGEAN MORALES RADIOS DOWN HE SEES FOUR BAD GUYS MOVING.
DILLON BEHR: THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK STAND UP.
SCOTT FORD: LIGHT IT UP! TAKE COVER! THEY ANSWER BACK WITH JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FIREPOWER.
DILLON BEHR: THE ENTIRE VALLEY JUST ERUPTED.
SCOTT FORD: THESE GUYS WERE WELL DISCIPLINED.
THEY HAD A PLAN.
WE'D FALLEN RIGH INTO THE AMBUSH.
THIS WAS GOING TO TURN INTO THE BIGGEST FIREFIGH OF MY LIFE.
EITHER YOU ARE WITH US, OR YOU ARE WITH THE TERRORISTS.
COMMANDER: OUR TARGET IS HAJI GHAFOUR, LEADER OF THE HIG GROUP.
MAN: I GOT A BUNCH OF DUDES GATHERING ON THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE.
SCOTT FORD: TAKE COVER! EVEN THOUGH THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST US, WE CAN'T GIVE UP.
[GUNFIRE.]
YOU WANT TO MAKE THEM REGRET SHOOTING AT YOU.
DILLON BEHR: WE COULDN' GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD.
THERE WAS NOWHERE TO HIDE.
I NEEDED TO MOVE OU FROM THAT POSITION.
I SAW A FELLED TREE, AND I FIGURED THAT WAS THE BES CHANCE THAT I HAD.
THE CONCEPT OF TIME ALMOST GOES OUT THE WINDOW.
SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING SORT OF SLOWS DOWN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S HAPPENING EXTREMELY QUICKLY.
I GOT UP TO START MOVING TOWARDS THE FELLED TREE.
AND THAT'S WHEN THE BULLET IMPACTED MY PELVIS.
I FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR AND ELECTROCUTED AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.
I'D NEVER FELT SUCH EXCRUCIATING PAIN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
A LOT OF TIMES, WE THINK WE'RE INVINCIBLE.
VERY RARELY DO YOU THINK, 'I'M THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE INJURED.
' I FELT MYSELF BEING DRAGGED.
LUIS MORALES WAS DOING TRIAGE.
HE WAS COMPLETELY OUT IN THE OPEN.
HE HAD A LOT OF GAUZE AND BANDAGES, AND STARTED PUTTING PRESSURE ON MY PELVIS.
AND I HAD MY ARM UP LIKE THIS.
THE BULLET CAME OUT RIGHT HERE.
AND HIT LUIS IN THE ANKLE.
THE SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE BY THE SECOND.
SCOTT FORD: MOVE UP NOW! I GET A RADIO CALL.
MAN: BEHR'S BEEN HIT! IT'S CRITICAL! SCOTT FORD: THE TONE OF THE VOICE SCARED ME.
MAN: WE NEED A MEDIC UP HERE, NOW! SCOTT FORD: I THINK THA EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM, WHEN THEY HEARD THAT DILLON HAD BEEN CRITICALLY INJURED, THEY DIDN'T THINK ABOUT, 'WE NEED TO EVACUATE A CASUALTY.
' EVERYBODY KNEW THE URGENCY THAT WE NEEDED TO SAVE DILLON'S LIFE.
HEY, RON.
WE NEED TO GET UP THERE.
WE GOT TO GET THEM DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, OK? I GRABBED THE TEAM MEDIC, RON SHURER AND I SAID, "HEY, WE'VE GO TO GET UP THERE.
SETH, ON MY MARK! NOW, GO! NORMALLY, YOU WOULD MOVE FROM ONE PIECE OF COVER TO THE OTHER.
BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH GUNFIRE THAT IT ALMOST FELT LIKE, LET'S JUST SPRIN ALL THE WAY THERE.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE TO BE.
I CAN REMEMBER GRABBING DIRT TO TRY AND CLIMB UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AND LIKE, FEELING BULLETS LITERALLY IMPACTING BETWEEN OUR HANDS.
[GUNFIRE.]
SHURER AND I JUS CONTINUE TO CLIMB, CONTINUE TO CLIMB, CONTINUE TO CLIMB.
I'M JUST AMAZED THAT, YOU KNOW, SHURER AND I, WE DIDN'T GET SHOT.
WE GET UP TO THE LEDGE, THERE'S BULLET CASINGS EVERYWHERE, THERE'S PIECES OF KIT, POOLS OF BLOOD.
DILLON WAS WHITE AS A GHOST AT THIS POINT.
I NEEDED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FAST, OTHERWISE WE WERE GOING TO DIE ON THIS MOUNTAIN.
DILLON BEHR: AAH! SCOTT FORD: NOW! MAN DOWN, WE GOT A MAN DOWN.
DILLON BEHR: I REMEMBER SCOTT DIRECTING WHERE TO MOVE PEOPLE TO.
HAVING HIM SHOW UP ON THE SCENE DID GIVE ME SOME REASSURANCE.
HE WAS VERY CALM.
AAH! AND THAT SORT OF LEADERSHIP BROUGHT EVERYBODY BACK INTO THE REALITY.
SCOTT FORD: DILLON, DILLON! AS SOON AS YOU LOOKED AT DILLON BEHR, YOU KNEW THAT THE CLOCK WAS TICKING.
DILLON! HE LOOKED UP AT ME.
DILLON, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, MAN.
AND I GRABBED HIS HAND AND I WAS LIKE, "HEY MAN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GETTING YOU OUT OF HERE AS FAST AS WE CAN.
" DILLON BEHR: I REMEMBER RON, THE MEDIC, REASSURING ME THA EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE OK, THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET OUT OF THERE.
RON SHURER: IT'S NOT A FEMORAL ARTERY INJURY, RIGHT? DILLON BEHR: YET A THE SAME TIME HE YELLS RON SHURER: WE NEED TO GE THIS MAN OUT OF HERE, NOW! DILLON BEHR: SO HE'S TELLING ME I'M OK, BUT I KNEW FROM THE URGENCY THAT I WASN'T REALLY OK.
DILLON BEHR: AAH! HE GAVE ME A SHOT OF MORPHINE.
IT HELPED DULL THE PAIN A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT KIND OF MADE ME CLOUDY.
YOUR VISION BECOMES A LITTLE BIT BLURRED.
SCOTT FORD: HOW'S IT LOOKING? DILLON BEHR: THE SOUNDS THAT YOU HEAR BECOME A LITTLE MORE MUFFLED.
SCOTT FORD: WE GOT TO GET THIS MAN OUT OF HERE.
DILLON BEHR: YOUR SENSE OF REALITY IS SHIFTED TO SOMETHING LIKE A BLURRY VIDEO GAME.
YOU DO FEEL SOMEWHA DETACHED FROM YOURSELF.
I THINK THAT THE MORPHINE WAS ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO TAKE IN MORE THAN JUST MY IMMEDIATE PAIN, AND I WAS ABLE TO SORT OF SEE THE REST OF THE BATTLEFIELD FOR THE FIRS TIME SINCE I HAD BEEN SHOT.
I NOTICED THAT ON A RIDGE LINE ACROSS THE VALLEY, THERE WERE OTHER BUILDINGS THAT HAD NOT BEEN SECURED.
THEY WOULD HAVE HAD A DIRECT SHOT AT MYSELF AND EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE TEAM.
BUILDING.
I DID EVERYTHING THAT I COULD TO MUSTER ENOUGH STRENGTH TO RELAY THAT TO THE TEAM.
THEY GOT US.
BUT I WAS STRUGGLING TO GET MY WORDS TOGETHER.
WHITEBUILDING.
ON THE RIDGE LINE! SCOTT FORD: COPY.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE TO UTILIZE, YOU KNOW, AIR SUPPORT TO WIN THE BATTLE.
RHYNER! GET ME A 2,000 POUNDER ON THAT RIDGE LINE, ASAP! RHYNER! RHYNER'S JOB WAS COMBAT CONTROLLER.
RHYNER, RHYNER! I LOOK OVER AND HE'S NO EVEN FACING THE OBJECTIVE.
I NEED YOU TO GET ON THE RADIO AND CALL IN THE AIR SUPPORT.
HIS JOB IS TO GIVE COORDINATES FOR TARGETS THROUGH A RADIO.
RHYNER! YOU CAN TELL HE'S IN A LITTLE BIT OF SHOCK.
HE WAS BRAND NEW OUT OF SCHOOL.
THIS IS HIS FIRS REAL BAPTISM BY FIRE, SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO HAVE A GUY THAT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF COMBAT SHOCK.
IF YOU'RE IN COMBAT SHOCK, YOU'RE NOT EFFECTIVE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
AND SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE A CASUALTY.
I REALIZED I NEEDED TO HAVE A VERY CALM CONVERSATION WITH HIM, TO GET HIM TO CALM DOWN.
KIND OF EFFECTIVELY BRING HIM OUT OF THE BATTLE FOR A MINUTE.
I ACTUALLY REACH OVER, PUT MY ARM AROUND HIM AND, YOU KNOW, JUST HAD A CONVERSATION LIKE WE WERE SITTING IN A BAR.
YOU HAVING A GOOD DAY TODAY? HE KIND OF LOOKED AT ME LIKE, "WHAT?" IT'S A NICE VIEW UP HERE, ISN'T IT? ZACH RHYNER: YEAH, KIND OF.
SCOTT FORD: IT KIND OF CREATES A LITTLE SPACE, WHERE IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE GUNFIRE DISAPPEARS FOR THAT SMALL MOMENT.
WHEN WE GET OUT OF HERE, WE'RE GOING TO GET A BEER.
YOU KNOW I REALLY NEED YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS RIGHT NOW.
YOU NEED TO GET ON THE RADIO, YOU'RE GOING TO CALL IN THE AIR SUPPORT.
CAN YOU DO THAT FOR ME? YOU SEE THAT WHITE BUILDING OVER THERE? LET'S CRUSH THAT ONE FIRST.
THE NEXT ONE AFTER THAT, AND THEN AFTER, JUST DON'T EVER STOP UNTIL THE WHOLE VILLAGE IS A PARKING LOT.
YOU DO THAT FOR ME? GOOD MAN.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS.
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51, THIS IS TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER, MISSION NUMBER THREE, THREE, THREE, SIX.
REQUESTING PRIORITY ONE.
MAN: HAWK 51, ON STATION.
ZACH RHYNER: TARGET IS ONE BUILDING, FORTIFIED HOUSE DILLON BEHR: THEY WERE GOING TO DROP A 2,000 POUND BOMB.
THAT'S A VERY BIG BOMB.
ZACH RHYNER: LOCATION 42 SIERRA X-RAY ECHO DILLON BEHR: WE WERE DEFINITELY WELL WITHIN THE MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE.
WHAT WE CALL 'DANGER CLOSE'.
ZACH RHYNER: FRIENDLIES ARE LESS THAN A CLICK AWAY.
SCOTT FORD: WE ARE ASSUMING THE RISK OF THAT BOMB BEING DROPPED WITHIN THE MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE.
THEY COULD DROP I RIGHT ON TOP OF OUR HEADS, AND KILL US ALL.
ZACH RHYNER: DESTROY TARGET.
MAN: COPY THAT.
SCOTT FORD: IT WAS A TENSE MOMENT OF ANTICIPATION OF, YOU KNOW, "AM I GOING TO GE HIT BY SHRAPNEL OR DEBRIS?" IT'S AN UNKNOWN, BECAUSE THERE'S NO TRAINING FOR THAT.
MAN: TEN, NINE DILLON BEHR: THERE CAME A COUNTDOWN OVER THE RADIO.
MAN: EIGHT DILLON BEHR: AND THE ONLY THING THAT WAS SHIELDING ME WAS RON, THE MEDIC.
SCOTT FORD: INCOMING, EVERYBODY GET DOWN! I HAD TO RUN OVER TO THE WALL AND COUNT IN MY HEAD, LIKE, FIVE, FOUR, THREE TWO YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY TO BELIEVE IN GOD.
PPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 GATHERING ON ROOFTOPS.
[GUNFIRE.]
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51, THIS IS TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER.
DESTROY TARGET.
DILLON BEHR: THE ENTIRE VALLEY ERUPTED WITH THIS HUGE ROAR.
SCOTT FORD: ALMOST LIKE I WAS KIND OF THE WORST THUNDER YOU'D EVER HEARD.
DILLON BEHR: ROCKS STARTED HITTING THE WALLS ALL AROUND US.
THE SMOKE AND THE DEBRIS BLOCKS OUT THE SUN.
MAN: THAT WAS CLOSE TO THE GOOD GUYS.
MAN 2: YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY DANGER CLOSE.
MAN: YES, AND THEN SOME.
MAN 2: I DON'T HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
SCOTT FORD: AND THEN, THERE WAS JUST SILENCE.
DILLON, YOU OK? DILLON BEHR: A PIECE OF ROCK FELL AND LANDED RIGHT ON MY STOMACH.
THAT PIECE OF ROCK ACTUALLY PERFORATED MY INTESTINES.
WHAT'S NEXT? THIS IS A DAY FROM HELL.
SCOTT FORD: ONCE WE DROPPED THE BOMB, WE HAD ABOUT A TWO MINUTE LULL.
NOW, I'VE KIND OF GO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GUNFIGHT, AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN' POSSIBLY SCALE THE REST OF THIS MOUNTAIN AND CONTINUE THE ASSAULT.
IT WAS MORE IMPORTAN TO SAVE DILLON'S LIFE, AT ALL COSTS.
AIR SUPPORT IS WHAT'S GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE GET OFF THIS MOUNTAIN.
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51, THIS IS TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER.
SCOTT FORD: RHYNER'S WORKING WITH THE AIRCRAFT NOW.
OBVIOUSLY, THE COMBAT SHOCK IS GONE.
I CAME UP WITH A PLAN, LET'S USE THESE LULLS TO OUR ADVANTAGE.
WE CAN HAND CASUALTIES DOWN, YOU KNOW, ONE LEVEL.
KIND OF LEAPFROG THEM, UNTIL WE CAN GET THEM TO SAFETY.
RON, WE NEED TO GE THESE GUYS PACKAGED AND READY TO MOVE.
WE'RE WAITING ON YOU.
RON SHURER: YES, SIR! SCOTT FORD: THEN, WE'RE BACK IN THE GUNFIGHT AGAIN.
DILLON BEHR: AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN SCOTT! SCOTT FORD: I HAD TO TAKE A VERY QUICK, INSTINCTIVE SHOT.
THEY'VE SENT SOMEBODY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO TRY AND PROBE US.
THEY'RE CHECKING OUR VULNERABILITY.
TYPICALLY, WHENEVER YOU START TO DROP BOMBS, THEY START TO FLEE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL IN THE GUNFIGHT, THEY'RE NOT LEAVING.
AND SO NOW I REALIZE THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT TO THEIR DEATH.
DILLON BEHR: I FEL LIKE I WAS FADING OUT.
MY THOUGHTS STARTED DRIFTING TO DYING, GOD, AND WHAT IT'S LIKE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
ALL OF THE THINGS THA YOU NEVER ACCOMPLISHED.
I REMEMBER, I WAS DEFINITELY THINKING ABOUT MY FAMILY.
I SAID A PRAYER.
I SAID, "GOD, I KNOW I'M NO THE BEST PERSON IN THE WORLD, BUT IF THERE'S ANY REASON THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE ALIVE NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR THAT.
" I FELT THIS, LIKE, STRANGE CALM.
AND I REMEMBER THINKING, 'OK, THIS IS IT.
' THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT I DIE.
AND I JUST FELT LIKE A STRANGE, LIKE, PEACE.
AND THEN, AT THAT MOMENT RON SHURER: DILLON, HEY STAY WITH ME, MAN! YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE TODAY, OK? COME ON, DILLON.
DILLON BEHR: I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THAT MOMENT AND TRY TO BE A BETTER PERSON THAN I WAS BEFORE THAT.
AND I TRY TO LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST.
IT'S AMAZING HOW NEARLY DYING WILL GIVE YOU A DIFFEREN PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.
HOW PRECIOUS LIFE IS, REALLY AND HOW FRAGILE IT IS.
RON SHURER: COME ON, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT, BUDDY! WE'RE GOING TO GE YOU OUT OF THIS! OK, READY TO MOVE! SCOTT FORD: OK, COPY! GET DILLON READY! WE GO ON MY MARK.
WALDING, WE DO COVERING FIRE! LET'S MOVE! ESSENTIALLY, STAFF SERGEAN WALDING AND I WERE USING OUR BODIES AS COVER.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I JUST SEE WALDING JUMP.
DILLON BEHR: JOHN WALDING WAS SHOT THROUGH THE LEG.
I REMEMBER HIM SCREAMING IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN.
SCOTT FORD: MEDIC! TOURNIQUET! DILLON BEHR: FIRS MYSELF, NOW LUIS, AND NOW JOHN WALDING'S ALSO BEEN HIT.
SO, FOR A TWELVE MAN TEAM, THREE OF US HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE BATTLE.
THE ODDS ARE NO WERE NOT LOOKING GOOD.
SCOTT FORD: THAT'S WHEN I REALLY STARTED TO PICK UP MY RATE OF FIRE.
I WAS KIND OF THE LAST WALL OF DEFENSE FOR OUR CASUALTIES.
MY PLAN WAS JUST TO STAND THERE AND SHOOT UNTIL WE COULD MOVE.
I ESSENTIALLY HAVE A QUARTER OF MY FORCE WOUNDED.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE RES OF MY DETACHMENT TO GET THESE THREE OFF THE MOUNTAIN.
IF WE TAKE ANOTHER WOUNDED, YOU KNOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I FELT A ROUND IMPACT MY CHEST.
AT THAT POINT, I'M NOT SURE I'M GOING TO GE OFF THIS MOUNTAIN ALIVE.
[GUNFIRE.]
SCOTT FORD: IT FELT LIKE BEING HIT BY A BASEBALL BAT.
VERY SHARP AND VERY PAINFUL.
AT A MINIMUM, I HAD BROKEN A RIB.
IF NOT, THE BULLET HAD ACTUALLY PENETRATED THROUGH MY BODY ARMOR.
I DID A BLOOD CHECK WITH MY HAND, PUT IT IN BETWEEN MY BODY ARMOR AND MY CHEST.
THERE WAS NO BLOOD ON IT.
AND THEN I KIND OF JUST TOOK A BREATHER FOR A MINUTE AND WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, "HEY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TIME TO ENJOY A MOMEN OF I FEEL LUCKY.
" GOT TO GET BACK OU THERE AND GET THE JOB DONE.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I JUST FEEL THIS EXTREME PAIN IN MY LEFT ARM.
DILLON BEHR: THE BULLE THAT HIT SCOTT WENT STRAIGH THROUGH HIS ARM AND HIT RON IN THE HEAD.
RON LOOKED SHELL-SHOCKED.
AND HE STARTED REACHING FOR HIS HELMET TO TAKE I OFF AND CHECK HIS HEAD.
NO, RON! NO, RON! AND ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS THAT SCENE FROM "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN," WHEN THE GUY ON THE BEACH TAKES OFF HIS HELMET, AND THEN ANOTHER BULLET RIPS THROUGH HIS HEAD.
RON! DON'T TAKE IT OFF.
KEEP YOUR HELMET ON.
SCOTT FORD: I TRY TO LIFT MY ARM TO LOOK AT IT, AND IT DOESN'T MOVE.
I JUST NEEDED TO TAKE A MINUTE.
I SAID A QUICK PRAYER.
GET EVERYBODY OFF THIS MOUNTAIN TODAY.
BEFORE THAT, I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY MOMENT LIKE THAT.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONS THAT QUICKLY KIND OF TAKE OVER.
YOU KNOW, AM I GOING TO DIE ON THIS MOUNTAIN? IF WE SUSTAIN MORE CASUALTIES, YOU KNOW, AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO BE INEFFECTIVE TO FIGHT? JOHN WALDING: GO TO INJECT MYSELF.
SCOTT FORD: WALDING WANTED TO INJECT HIMSELF WITH HIS AUTO INJECTOR OF MORPHINE.
DILLON BEHR: EACH OF THESE PENS HAS A GREEN SIDE AND A PURPLE SIDE.
ONE IS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO YOUR LEG, AND THE OTHER ONE IS NOT.
JOHN WALDING: RON, WHICH END? RON SHURER: PURPLE! SCOTT FORD: WALDING SOMEHOW HAD GOTTEN IT MIXED UP.
JOHN WALDING: AAH, SON OF A BITCH! SCOTT FORD: AND HE INJECTS HIS THUMB FULL OF MORPHINE.
AND WE ALL JUST DIE LAUGHING.
AND HE STARTS TO LAUGH WITH US.
DILLON BEHR: IT ALMOS SEEMED LIKE THE BAD GUYS EVEN STOPPED TO, LIKE, LAUGH ALONG WITH US.
SCOTT FORD: THAT'S A SURPRISING THING.
HOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT, A SMALL PIECE OF HUMOR KIND OF GETS EVERYBODY TO KIND OF GET BACK ON TRACK.
AND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO WORK.
AFTER MONTHS OF TELLING THEM TO NEVER QUIT, I HAVE TO TELL MYSELF, "YOU NEED TO GET UP.
" LET'S SURVIVE, LET'S GET OFF THIS MOUNTAIN.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE START TO TURN THE BATTLE.
MAN: READY? MAN 2: I'M READY.
I'M ENGAGING WITH 30 MILLIMETER ON THOSE BUILDINGS.
MAN: OK.
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51, THIS IS TANGO FOXTROT BUSHMASTER.
SCOTT FORD: BY THAT TIME, WE HAD A LOT OF AIR SUPPOR THAT HAD STARTED TO REALLY POUND THE VILLAGE.
[INAUDIBLE.]
.
ZACH RHYNER: LOCATION, 42 SIERRA X-RAY ECHO.
SCOTT FORD: AND SO WE HAD A LOT OF LULLS.
[HIGH CALIBER GUNFIRE.]
MAN: SIR, NICE SHOT.
MAN 2: ROGER.
SCOTT FORD: BECAUSE I WAS THE ONLY CASUALTY THA HADN'T BEEN SHOT IN THE LEG, I WAS THE ONLY GUY THAT COULD MOVE BY HIMSELF.
AND SO I'M GOING TO GO DOWN AND ESTABLISH THE CASUALTY COLLECTION POINT.
WE DROPPED ANOTHER BOMB, AND IT WAS A MAJOR LULL.
AND I SAW MY OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE.
I WAS SURPRISED I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BALANCE.
KIND OF JUST HAD TO ALMOST SIT ON MY REAR END AND JUST SCOOT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
SO I'M JUST DRAGGING MY ARM THROUGH JUST DIRT.
I WOULD ACTUALLY TELL MYSELF, "DON'T LISTEN TO THE PAIN, JUST BLOCK IT OUT.
" HEY, YOU CAN'T QUIT, YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP GOING.
I GOT DOWN TO THE TIER WHERE OUR SNIPER, SETH HOWARD, WAS ACTUALLY AT.
SETH HOWARD: SIR.
SCOTT FORD: WHAT? SETH ACTUALLY WAS LIKE SETH HOWARD: NO, STOP.
SCOTT FORD: NO, NO.
I'M LIKE I NEED TO GET TO THE CCP.
SETH HOWARD: NEGATIVE, SIR! NEGATIVE.
SCOTT FORD: HERE'S ONE OF THE MOST JUNIOR GUYS ON THE TEAM, AND YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY ASSERTIVELY TELLING ME, "NO, STOP.
" SETH HOWARD: SEE THAT ARM BEFORE YOU GO ANYWHERE.
SCOTT FORD: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I HAD TO STOP THINKING THAT I COULD DO IT ALL MYSELF.
SETH HOWARD: GOING TO GET YOU FIXED UP, SIR.
SCOTT FORD: AND LET HIM HELP ME.
FOR SOMEBODY LIKE MYSELF, THAT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST LESSONS TO LEARN.
DILLON BEHR: THE ONES OF US THAT WERE WOUNDED CRITICALLY, MYSELF AND JOHN WALDING AND LUIS MORALES, COULDN'T MAKE IT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN THE WAY THA WE HAD CAME.
IT WOULD HAVE EXPOSED ME AND THE GUYS TO TOO MUCH FIRE.
THE WAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, THERE WAS NO PATH.
IT WAS JUST DROPPING DOWN CLIFFS, BASICALLY.
THIS WAS LITERALLY ROCK CLIMBING.
20, 30 FOOT DROPS IN SOME PLACES.
THE MORPHINE HAD MORE THAN WORN OFF BY THIS POINT.
BEING DROPPED AT THAT POINT, ONTO THAT LEG IT WAS SO EXCRUCIATING.
SCOTT FORD: WE ALL FINALLY REACHED THE CASUALTY COLLECTION POINT.
DILLON BEHR: I WAS PROPPED UP SORT OF FACING OU INTO THE VALLEY.
AND I REMEMBER HEARING THE BLACK HAWK APPROACH.
SCOTT FORD: HELICOPTER GETS CLOSER AND CLOSER AND CLOSER, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HEAR THE ROTORS.
AND YOU JUS KIND OF HAD THIS, "HEY, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE.
" YOU KNOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SURVIVE THIS.
[GUNFIRE.]
DILLON BEHR: GUNFIRE STARTED ERUPTING AGAIN.
THE HELICOPTER HAD STARTED TAKING A BUNCH OF BULLETS.
SCOTT FORD: IT SOUNDS LIKE HAIL HITTING THE HELICOPTER.
I CAN FINALLY REACH UP, AND I'M ALMOST TRYING TO GRAB THE FLOOR OF THIS THING AND PULL THE HELICOPTER OVER TO ME.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S KIND OF LIKE FREEDOM GETS YANKED FROM YOUR HAND.
HEAR ROTORS STRIKE THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.
AND I'M JUST LIKE, "NO.
" AND SO HE HAS TO LIMP THIS HELICOPTER OUT OF THERE.
DILLON BEHR: IF THE HELICOPTERS COULDN'T GET IN THERE AND GET US OUT, WE WERE GOING TO BE THERE ALL NIGHT.
THE CHANCES OF ALL OF US FIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, AND THE CHANCES OF ME MAKING IT TO DAYLIGHT WERE SLIM TO NONE.
SCOTT FORD: YOU NEED TO SEND ANOTHER MEDEVAC INTO THE VALLEY, NOW! WE CANNOT SUSTAIN OVERNIGHT.
DILLON BEHR: SCOTT WAS ADAMANT ABOUT THE FACT THA ANOTHER BIRD HAD TO COME IN.
SCOTT FORD: WE'RE RUNNING LOW ON AMMO AND SUPPLIES, AND IN DANGER OF BEING OVERRUN.
I JUST TOLD THEM, I SAID, "SOME OF THOSE CASUALTIES MAY NOT SURVIVE OVERNIGHT.
" OUR CASUALTIES NEED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT THIS HARD IMMEDIATE MEDICAL SUPPORT! IN MY OPINION, WE DON'T WIN UNTIL WE GE DILLON BEHR OUT ALIVE.
DO YOU COPY? MAN: ROGER THAT, TF BUSHMASTER.
WE'RE COMING IN.
SCOTT FORD: AS THE HELICOPTER COMES IN, YOU'RE JUST WATCHING EVERY MOVE THESE PILOTS MAKE.
THIS HELICOPTER IS OUR LAST CHANCE.
DILLON BEHR: ONCE I WAS PUT ONTO THE HELICOPTER THE TEAM JUMPED ON ME AND STARTED RIPPING EVERYTHING OFF.
THEY'D TAKEN MY BLOOD PRESSURE.
SCOTT FORD: AS WE LIFT OFF, YOU CAN STILL HEAR A HAIL OF GUNFIRE.
AND ALL I CAN IMAGINE IS, 'WE'RE GOING TO EXPLODE IN THIS BIG BALL OF FIRE.
' THOSE SECONDS FEL LIKE IT WAS 20 MINUTES.
AND IT WAS PROBABLY NO MORE THAN 10, 15 SECONDS.
BUT EVENTUALLY YOU DON'T HEAR ANY GUNFIRE.
WE'VE MADE IT.
THAT'S A FEELING I'LL NEVER FORGET, THE REST OF MY LIFE.
IT WAS AMAZING TO ME THAT EVERY AMERICAN HAD MADE IT OUT ALIVE.
DILLON BEHR: I DON' CONSIDER IT LUCK.
THE LEADERSHIP OF SCOTT, THE TRAINING, THE RESILIENCY TO NEVER GIVE UP.
EVERYBODY WORKED TOGETHER TO DO WHAT THEY HAD TO DO FOR THE GUY ON THEIR LEF AND THE GUY ON THEIR RIGHT.
MY TEAMMATES ARE THE ONLY REASON THAT I'M ALIVE TODAY.
ZACH RHYNER: HAWK 51.
DILLON BEHR: SCOTT AND I DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE, BUT THAT DAY, I GAINED A LARGE AMOUNT OF RESPEC FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
THAT'S A BOND THAT CAN' REALLY BE BROKEN BY TIME.
SCOTT FORD: WE'LL REMAIN BROTHERS FOREVER.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE 90 YEARS OLD AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GRUMPIER OLD MEN, JUST OUT THERE TRYING TO HUNT TOGETHER, AND JUST ENJOYING THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALIVE AND WE SURVIVED THAT DAY.